Evil In John Knowles 'A Separate Peace'

Words: 913
Pages: 4
Open Document
One typically imagines evil in the form of some sort of villain or monster, but either can rarely be found in day to day living. A Separate Peace by John Knowles is a fictional novel that focuses on the evils of transitioning from teenager to adult. In a tacit way, it is understood that this evil is both that that exists in the world and the in human heart. Throughout the book, the characters are vulnerable in their changing times, and it is then that inner evil most often strikes. The currency of World War II also deeply affect the boys, exposing them to evil in the world they never thought could be, showing them nothing is really safe. In John Knowles’ coming-of-age novel, Knowles skillfully communicates a common theme of evil through the …show more content…
In an act of enmity and vulnerability, Gene shakes the limb of their tree and sends Finny tumbling. This tree is the place of Gene’s first sin, and the guilt that resides there will never leave. It affects his everyday life, driving him to rash conclusions and actions that affect not only him but the people around him as well. As Gene ages, he shares that his inner evil follows him to the end, saying, “because my war ended before I even put on a uniform; I was on active duty all my time at school; I killed my enemy there” (Knowles 204). Gene’s guilty conscience stays with him for years after Finny’s death and is further explained by this quote, taking the form of Gene’s personal war. The actions of his own evil keep him on “active duty,” constantly tormenting him and eventually cause him to come to terms with himself and “killed [his] enemy.” The evil of the human heart changes Gene Forrester, leaving him never able to forget the split second he et his evil control …show more content…
Following is injury, Finny finds it difficult to believe that Gene is to be held responsible. As a character who is not able to see evil in people, it is especially difficult. Amongst a world of other things, Finny is also presented with the indirect evil of the war itself. As permanently handicapped, he must learn to accept his inability to enlist in the war. Finny can only sit and watch all the boys at Devon leave and take their turn defending his country as he is not able to. This evil drives him to make up excuses for the war and create an idealistic world where he can ignore the burden of the country. Finny later explains his denial, sharing, “I was going to keep on saying it until two seconds after I got a letter . . . saying, ‘Yes, you can enlist with us.’ Then there would have been a war” (Knowles 190). This quote shows Finny’s desperation to ignore the evil forced onto him by the war. Finny requires an escape, and in doing so, he forces his own evils onto the people around him. As the most unlikely character, Finny is burdened by the evil of his best friend and by the evil of the changing world around
Show More

Related Documents: Evil In John Knowles 'A Separate Peace'

A Separate Peace Gene Character Analysis

Gene was an evil person in John Knowles’ book, A Separate Peace, because Gene let the jealousy overcome his empathy for Finny, causing him to hurt his best friend. Gene purposefully jounced the limb while on the tree with Finny, causing him to fall and break his leg, crippling him Finny for life. Gene was overcome with jealousy and hatred towards his best friend Finny. Another reason to prove Gene was an evil person was when Finny got caught with the headmaster of Devon School, Gene secretly was…

Words 985 - Pages 4

Character Analysis: A Separate Peace By John Knowles

In the story a separate peace by John Knowles two boys named Gene and Finny are friends in a military school during the 1940’s. they are both very different from each other and it all seems to work out for them. After reading the first few chapters of the book you realize that Finny is competitive, bold, a leader, athletic, and quite childish. Whereas Gene is Not so athletic, more of an introvert, and a follower. But later, as the book goes on you realize that the two are not really as compatible…

Words 362 - Pages 2

Evil's power over fear Essay

thoughts are warped by the things people fear and it can cause previously innocent minds to become corrupted and evil. In Lord of the Flies by William Golding, Ralph sees the correct choices in front of him, but because he fears losing power and the safety of his own physical being, he is unable to prevent the collapse of his society. Similar to Ralph, In A Separate Peace by John Knowles Gene’s fear of being judged prevents him from doing the right thing and leads to the eventual death of his friend…

Words 1229 - Pages 5

Summary Of John Knowles 'A Separate Peace'

The Effect of Harmony A Separate Peace, written by John Knowles, demonstrates what it is like being a college student who is just a year from graduating. From being close to join the war, one student named Gene Forrester develops the three levels of war. They are him trying to figure out who he is, his inhumane attitude to others, and his guilt. To start off, Gene first develops the feelings that he doesn’t know who he truly is. He figures out that he doesn’t just enjoy learning and his academics…

Words 590 - Pages 3

A Separate Peace Final Essay

A Separate Peace John Knowles Genre – Fiction and Tragedy Adolescent Relationships Antagonist & Protagonist In the story A Separate Peace I believe that Gene is the protagonist and Brinker is his antagonist. This is because Brinker tells Gene that his failure to enlist comes from pity for Finny. He also says that Gene should put the accident in the past by seeing all the details come to light. Brinker hints darkly that Gene knows what he means. Meaning Brinker is starting to figure…

Words 2468 - Pages 10

A Separate Peace Essay

A SEPARATE PEACE By John Knowles Background  The novel is set at Devon, a private boarding school in New Hampshire, during World War II. The novel begins with the main characters, Gene and Finny, at Devon for a summer session. The school hopes that this session will allow students to receive a diploma before they are drafted on their 18th birthday. Gene and Finny are roommates and friends at the school. Finny is a natural athlete who also acts as a leader for the other boys. Gene, however, is…

Words 2153 - Pages 9